The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09
FIRST Methods, Church.


the following text: First Peter, iii, 10.
"By which also he went and preached
unto the spirits in prison." 1t is
thought by many that the "spirits in
prison" are tho spirits OF the dead, asd
that they are held in an intermediate
state, still the subjects Of a gospel min.
istry. In other words this text is sup.
posed to teach tbs doctrine Of proba.
ton after death. May g on in sin,
1t may b., hanging oil their hope of
future hfs on the doubtful idea gath
cred here. Unaided, we know nothing
Of the future life. 1t lie all dark and
mysterious to us. The Bible is our
only source OF light on this subject
What it teaches we are to be guided
by. And We are TO follow its general
tenor and plain utte'auce and not
frame doctrines out OF it's doubtful
passages. | find in the Bible no plain
statement Of future probation. The
strongest passage in favor Of purgatory
or probation after death Is doubtful in
it's meaning, and admits of
another Interpretation. The whole
trend OF the Scripture is that character
determines destiny, and that character
formed In this life remains permanent.
Hence the utterance, Now Is the &C.
Cepted iime-now Is the day OF saliva
tion," II is said that there is no
work, nor device, nor wisdom, nor
knowledge In the grave (hade,) width
er thou eoest." In the parable OF the
rich man and Lazarus, II 1t be a para
bio, no hope Of redemptio was given
the man in torment He was remind
cd that there was "great gulf fixed"
between him and the Eden OF rest that
none could pass. Jesus said to the
penitent thief on the croes, "This dav
shalt thou be with me in Paradise"
No further penance was required. The
heart that is stony and impenitent In
the last hour must forever remain co.
Repent now. Instead OF being the
spirits Of the dead, the spirits in pris-
on here mentioned were those con.
demned millions on whom the flood
came. Hear the text in its connect
ion: "By which (the relative (which"
relates to The Holy SPIRIT also he
went and preached unto the spirits in
prison which sometime were disobgd-
ent, where once the long suffering OF
God waited ia the days Of Noah.
while the ark was q preparing"
There are three things to be observed
here. First, the subjects of the
preschiug-those who sometimes were
disobedient. Second, the agency by
which Christ is said 10 have preached
not in person, bat by the Holy |
Spirit, to whom the relative (which"
must refer. Third, the time when
this preaching WAS done -"where
once the long suffering OF God waited
in the days Of Noah" This consider
ed, and the DOUBT Ia removed from the
B. xt. The world was degenerate, and
God determined to inflCt judgment
upon IL. He dee mined 10 sand a
n lod upon the whole race. Ia Genesis
vi, 3, no says: "My spirit shall not
always strive with man, nevertheless
his days upon the earth shall be
hundred and twenty years." That is
to say Gods spirit had been shining
to lead man to righteousue's, and all
appeals had bean resisted, and He had
determined TO execute Judgment upon /
the race, but respite Of one hundred
and twenty years was given in
order that exiTaordinary means might
be employed to save as many as would
be saved, then the decree should go
forth Hence, il is said, First Peter i've:
For this cause WAS the gospel preached
also to them thai are dead, that they
might be judged according TO men in
The faeh, but live according to God In
the spirit" The condemnation in the
judgment OF the food was not an eter-
nal condemnation unto such as re-
pented. The gospel was preached
unto them in order that while they
fell under the general doom as men,
they might live unto God in the
spirit, and the deliverance OF the Cos
pei was unto them while living in this
world. "The gospel was preached I'M
10 them that are dead" They are
dead now, but the preaching came to
hem In this world. We are not to
Iancy God unjust or severe. He is
oVe itself. He does not will the death
Dt any man. All ls done that can be
lone TO save men. Salvation is full,
and thank God it is free. No man
need perish, or can perish that will
i've up to the light that he
nss. Even the very heather
shall be judged by the law Of
God written in their condolences, and
luch of them as do their best to follow
he light that shines into their under
tauding shall come to know more OF
I in the future revelations Of God and
His Son, just as we, who have supe.
'ior advantages. In the great day OF
inal settle ent no man will be con-
lemned who shall not himself confess
n the presence Of assemb cd millions
hat the Judgment is just. Beloved,
lon't delay to live good life with
he hope that you may possibly gain
. little chance to repent in the world
o come. Begin now. Remember that
the wages Of sin is death, but the
.ilt OF God Is eternal life through
esus Christ, our Lord"